Egyptian American Sentenced to Life in Prison by Cairo Judge

An Egyptian American citizen has been sentenced to life in prison by a Cairo court after being charged with accusations regarding his support to the Muslim Brotherhood in 2013.

Mohamed Soltan, 27 years old, who is a native from Ohio, is forced to spend his life in prison, as was confirmed by a judge from a Cairo court during a session which was televised, due to its high relevance to the Egyptian people. Death sentences have also been given, for the father of the American citizen Mohamed Soltan, Salah Soltan, and also to a number of 13 other people. The Cairo judge stated that the defendants were responsible for inciting chaos. They have also been charged with planning demonstrations against the government after the military events of 2013.

In addition to Mohamed Soltan and the 14 defendants sentenced to death, including Soltan`s father, Salah, 37 people were sentenced to life in prison for the same accusations of supporting the Muslim Brotherhood.

Mohamed Solatan has been protesting against the Cairo judge`s verdict, through a hunger strike which he has been leading for a year. He is accused of false news transmission and also of funding the sit-in in one of the squares of the Egyptian capital, Cairo, the Rabaa al-Adawiya square. The sit-in was in support of the Muslim Brotherhood.

The life sentence is not yet irrevocable. Mohamed Soltan still has the right to appeal the judge`s verdict.

Supporters of Mohamed Soltan have created a Facebook page in order to bring international attention to the case of the defendant and to tell a another version of the story, different from the official one.

“Without a fair trial or hearing of any evidence presented against him, Mohamed — a brother, a son, a friend, and an advocate for democracy . . .has been sentenced to life in prison,”

was stated within a post on the Free Soltan Facebook page on Saturday.

Amnesty International has showed interest for he case of Mohammad Soltan. They have expressed their disapproval with the judge`s decision and actually regarding the whole manner in which the trial was led. Amnesty International has sent a letter to President Barrack Obama, stating firmly that Mohamed Soltan`s deeds should not be reckoned as criminal demeanor.

The case of Mohamed Soltan is not the only one which is controversial and started discussions. Egypt struggles to find the right way to deal with the thousands of detainees taken into custody after the 2013 military coup.